A pharmacological comparison of 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine and LSD in the dog.
M Nozaki, D B Vaupel, L D Bright, W R Martin
Drug and alcohol dependence May 1, 1978 DOI: 10.1016/0376-8716(78)90037-6 via PubMed
Summary
MMDA, a hallucinogenic compound in humans, was compared to LSD in dogs. Single doses of MMDA partially resembled LSD, facilitating the flexor reflex and causing rapid breathing, hyperthermia, and analgesia, but MMDA caused greater pupil dilation. Only LSD consistently triggered a stepping reflex and increased heart rate. In interaction and cross-tolerance studies with LSD-tolerant dogs, MMDA's effects generally differed from LSD's, except for spinal cord facilitation. Cyproheptadine blocked most LSD effects but only MMDA's flexor reflex facilitation. Phenoxybenzamine blocked MMDA-induced pupil dilation, analgesia, and hyperthermia but not LSD's effects. Cross-tolerance to MMDA occurred only for flexor and skin twitch reflexes. MMDA's appetite-suppressing potency was 16 times less than d-amphetamine. The authors conclude MMDA has primarily amphetamine-like activity with some LSD-like actions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Comparative pharmacological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Dogs |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key finding | MMDA has primarily amphetamine-like activity with some LSD-like actions. |
Abstract
3-Methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA), which has been reported to have hallucinogenic actions in man, was compared to LSD in single dose, antagonist interaction, cross-tolerance and appetite suppression studie in the dog. In single doses, MMDA partially resembled LSD: both facilitated the flexor reflex and produced tachypnea, hyperthermia, and analgesia; however, MMDA had greater activity than LSD in producing mydriasis. Only LSD consistently elicited the stepping reflex and produced tachycardia. In both the interaction studies and cross-tolerance studies in LSD-tolerant dogs the effects of MMDA were generally not like those of LSD, except for its spinal cord facilitatory effect. Cyproheptadine antagonized most of the effects of LSD but only the facilitatory effect of MMDA on the flexor reflex. On the other hand, phenoxybenzamine antagonized the mydriasis, analgesia, and hyperthermia caused by MMDA but not LSD. Cross-tolerance to MMDA developed only to its effects on the flexor and skin twitch reflexes. In intact dogs, the anorexigenic potency of MMDA was 16 times less than that of d-amphetamine. It is concluded that MMDA has primarily amphetamine-like activity with some LSD-like actions.